39

Hear it here!

 

The Open Golf championship had ended at Royal Birkdale in England with a 39-year old huge long shot from New Zealand named Ryan Fox, capturing the Claret Jug symbolic of the final golf major of the year.

My thoughts jumped to the upcoming World Cup soccer (football) final between Spain and Argentina.  How poetic it would be if Argentina led by Lionel Messi would triumph and thus earn back-to-back Cup titles. Messi, the world’s best, also happens to be 39 years of age and what a tale it would be for the two sports heroes of the big sports weekend were both 39.

Visions of legendary comedian Jack Benny danced in my head. It was Benny who always claimed he was 39 long past reaching that age.

But something happened on the way to a neat coincidence.

Spain defeated Argentina in a thrilling World Cup final at the Meadowlands in New Jersey and the retiring Lionel Messi wound up as a runner up.

So much for coincidences.

Spain’s defense was brilliant as they controlled the ball, owned the time of possession and did what they did to every team they faced in the World Cup, shut them down.

Argentina never managed a shot on goal, and Spain came away with its second Cup win in history, having allowed only one goal in their march to the crown

Managing a shot on goal can happen by accident but Spain never had a letdown and Messi and company were outplayed . Yet they stayed in contention because Spain couldn’t score themselves. Regulation ended in a scoreless tie. And in the first 15 minute overtime period, Spain scored the only goal they needed and won by a 1-0 score.  It capped a sporting event held in the USA, Mexico, and Canada that was nothing short of sensational.

Throngs of visitors coming to America to see their country compete was a month long celebration of the sport that has a stranglehold throughout the world.

It also showed Americans why the World Cup has no equal, and the television ratings which went through the roof reflected the increased interest in the sport. Can you imagine how many thousands of youngsters were exposed to what we call soccer who dreamed that someday they might be representing the USA in the World Cup?

It was an ideal event that underscored this country’s 250th anniversary. And it came off in perfect fashion.
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Hours before Spain ruled the roost in the 48-nation tournament, the Open golf championship which we call the British Open concluded with the 56th ranked golfer in the world outlasting a long list of contenders to win a major title in which the best he had finished previously was a tie for 16th at this same championship in 2019. Ryan Fox, whose father was a rugby star in New Zeeland, and a grandfather who had a legendary cricket career obviously had the genes going for him. He managed to play steady, consistent golf and finished in a blaze, with four birdies on the last six holes. It was a wide open affair with Sam Burns the third round leader falling off but demonstrating he will be a force to be reckoned with. Burns, along with Lucas Herbert and eventual champion Fox matched the lowest score in major championship history with 62’s in this Open. Cam Young almost staged an amazing comeback rallying from seven shots down in the final round to owning the lead that nearly held up. Young had to wait over two hours to find out whether he won, lost, or was headed for a playoff.  He obviously didn’t win but Young is unquestionably on the brink. The final major of the season was not without drama.

Bryson DeChambeau, who you either love or hate, was a force in this tournament after failing to make the cut in the previous three majors in 2026. But on the fifth hole in the second round, DeChambeau hit his drive into the fescue and in his attempt to find the ball, was seen stepping on the grass which he had to do to look for it. Following the round, he was informed that the R&A committee which rules British golf that he would be penalized two shots for ‘stomping’ on the grass, thus improving his lie.  Instead of a closed door meeting to tell Bryson of his penalty, he was taken by cart to the “scene of the crime” in what looked to be a big show to inform him of the ruling in which DeChambeau visibly protested the decision, by threatening not to show up for Saturday’s third round.  He eventually decided to play after some 7 hours and a session hitting balls on the range amid increasing darkness.

DeChambeau stayed in the running until a triple bogey (three over par) on the 11th hole.

Never taking a position one way or another on Bryson DeChambeau I watched the entire scene at the fifth hole and never saw him stomp on anything or get too close to his ball.

It is not surprising that there is considerable resentment of DeChambeau’s leaving the PGA Tour to join the soon-to-be defunct LIV Tour. He is not molded from the same cookie cutter that marks most golfers on the tour. His golfing style is different and there is a sense he demands attention. That rankles the traditionalists like Rory McIloy who has an opinion on everything, including Bryson DeChambeau. McIlroy is not fond of DeChambeau. Who cares?

I’ve always said Rory McIloy should talk less and stick to playing golf where he had had his ups and downs. Then there is the media. Refusing to talk to them, as DeChambeau did, assured his negative coverage. All of this kind of made me root for his success in the Open. But not as much as I hoped that at the end of the glorious sports weekend, two 39-year olds would be hailed as champions. It happened for Ryan Fox in England, but not for Lionel Messi in New Jersey.

Ryan Fox with the Claret Jug

Bryson taken to “the scene of the crime”